Who makes the BEST garden tractor?

art · Mar 8, 2004

Bob the hydro's on the Cadet's have always climbed better then the Deere's hydro. I can't say that I've been head to head with the Kubota's on the hill's with the Cadet's but I haven't had a customer tell me they didn't like one either. It is hard to find to much level here and I'm not even afraid of the belt drives they use. I've seen some that didn't work but they normally had to long of a belt with to few idlers on them to give them the support they needed to transmit the power and fortunately they weren't what I sold as we were just fixing the problem. Kubota's G-series has been a heavy weight in the Garden tractor line-up for build and I've seen them with some high hours on them with little time spent even for the normal maintenence. There are not a lot of switches on the Kubota which keeps it simple not even an electric PTO clutch. The Kubota decks are on the strong side for a garden tractor and mow well. Your hills are a point to shoot for for your comfort.

DAP · Mar 8, 2004

Based on what you've stated, I'm wondering what the downside is for using the 24D for this task?

/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Bob_Skurka · Mar 8, 2004

DAP . . . I can't begin to take the NH TC24D into some areas because the hills are compound hills and the tractor would simply tip over, plus, there are areas where there is no room to turn around a tractor of that size (granted the TC is a small tractor) but it is not small enough.

In other areas where it is flat, the TC is too tall and prevents us from getting close enough to many of the smaller native trees, and the Cub simply drives UNDER the branches.

fishman · Mar 8, 2004

Art,

I have the Kubota T-1670 with the 40" deck and really like it. However, I can't see that it's a quick release deck, even though I think it's billed as one. I pulled some pins, but there was still a wire for the engagement pully attached to the deck that I couldn't detach. The pins were a booger-bear to get back in. Am I doing something wrong?

Ledgemere Farm · Mar 8, 2004

A guy I work with owns a 3204 Cub Cadet. He absolutely loves it. He mows a couple of acres and snow blows a 700' driveway. He is in his 40's and says the mower is pretty easy to put on and take off.
I have two things to say about Cub Cadet Garden Tractors: SHAFT DRIVE and CAST IRON REAR END.
That's all I got to say about that.

MossRoad · Mar 8, 2004

I now recall your space limitations issue regarding the Stiener.

The nice thing about the Power Trac is I can disconnect the mower, raise the lift arms and drive forward another foot. I could also build a shelf about 2' off the ground, lift the mower up there, disconnect, lower the arms, and then pull up to the shelf. But we still aren't sure if the ol' PT will climb your hill or not. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

As for the floor space that the PT takes up. If I back mine into my full sized pickup with the 60" mower attached until the rear hitch hits the front of the bed, the mower hangs off the rear of the bed by about a foot. Since it is an 8' bed with no tailgate, that would be about 9' with the mower attached and about 43" wide(tractor) and 62 or 64" wide on the mower.

The guy across the street from me has a Cub lawn tractor with mower deck and a snowthrower. It is a very nice unit, although I don't know the, model number off hand. But as I've said before, we are pool table top flat so I don't know how it would do on hills either.

Sounds like you need to get some dealers to bring you out some test units for a hill climb shootout. The winner gets your business. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Will_C · Mar 8, 2004

Bob; As a former Ingersoll owner, I can vouch for the tractors being tank like in their construction. I can also tell you (unless there has been some change) that they are not going to meet your need of having a quick and easy MMM attaching system. My father used to lift the tractor in the air with a backhoe to do MMM service, they are that much of a struggle to attach/detach.
Will

shoppintractors · Mar 8, 2004

Bob,

Have you seen the "Mountaineer." I have no personal experience but sounds like an interesting mowing machine....

http://www.gierecompany.com/mountaineer.htm

Don

Bob_Skurka · Mar 8, 2004

The Mountaineer that I own is the SUV made by Ford/Lincoln/Mercury. And as of last week I gave the Mountaineer to one of my employees and picked up a Volvo XC90 SUV for the little wife.

I had never heard of the Mountaineer Tractor. But thanks for the link. I watched the video and sent them an email. I like this. The 4 wheel steering combined with the 4 wheel drive looks like it would be great around some of the landscaping we have on some of the slopes. I actually think this could be my ideal lawn mowing tractor for the areas around the house. The largest mower deck they offer is 53" which is on the small side, but still acceptable. The tractor looks a little odd with all 4 wheels being the same size, but it sure looks functional.